One of the scariest questions you may have is whether or not you have developed genital herpes. Let’s look at a quick and easy way of figuring this out. Think cold sores (Herpes 1). If you have ever had a cold sore on your lip then you can relate to genital herpes (Herpes 2) as well. The virus that causes genital herpes is the same, or rather a cousin. But the most important feature is PAIN. Cold sores hurt. You feel them coming a day ahead of time and then you break out with a cluster of fluid filled sores that eventually progress into painful ulcers. This is exactly the way genital herpes presents. If you have a sore that is not painful, then it is probably not herpes. It is probably a zit or an infected hair. These can be tender but not painful.

If you think that you have herpes, this can be confirmed by going to a physician who can swab the sore and send it for testing. Fortunately, herpes is treatable (not curable) with oral medicine that you can take either daily, weekly or just during outbreaks. This will be determined by how often you have an outbreak. Just like cold sores, some of us get one every year or so while others may get them more often. Stress may be a factor that triggers them so try and relax.